Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has suffered another injury blow ahead of the new season after goalkeeper Shay Given was ruled out with a groin problem.
The 31-year-old limped out of the weekend's friendly clash with
Sampdoria and has been sent for further assessment after being dogged
by similar problems for much of last term.
'He has gone to see a specialist in London because we want to make
sure just how much damage has been done,' Allardyce said.
'He has been for a scan and it doesn't look serious, it's just a
slight strain. At the moment we only expect him to be out for a
couple of weeks, but we won't take any risks.'
Given joins Michael Owen in missing the opening weeks of the
campaign and Allardyce has revealed his 'bitter disappointment' at
the striker's inability to take part in most of the club's pre-season
friendlies.
After spending almost the whole of last season on the sidelines
following a knee injury sustained at the World Cup, the England man
was able to take part in United's final few league games and appeared
set for a full pre-season.
But a thigh injury picked up during shooting practice last month
has dashed those hopes and the 27-year-old now looks certain to miss
the opening weeks of the new Premier League season.
Allardyce added in The Journal: 'When I arrived one of the biggest
worries was not knowing about Michael's future, but since then the
biggest frustration has been his niggling injuries.
'For him not to be able to play in pre-season is frustrating for
him and bitterly disappointing for us.
'He desperately needed those games, but unfortunately this thigh
injury has taken longer than we thought to get better.
'It must be terrible for him because he was really looking forward
to getting involved with the lads again during the pre-season games.
'He has done plenty of training when he has been recovering from
the injury - it isn't training he is lacking, it is games and missing
pre-season is a big blow for him and us.'